Pattern tracking means for line stitching machines



May 3, 1966 A. scHwARzBERGER 3,249,077

PATTERN TRACKING MEANS FOR LINE STITCHING MACHINES May 3, 1966 A.scHwARzBERGER 3,249,077

PATTERN TRACKING MEANS FOR LINE STITCHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 9, 1963 FIG. 2

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May 3, 1966 A. scHwARzBr-:RGER 3,249,077

PATTERN TRACKING MEANS FOR LINE STITCHING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 1963 25. 3 ,w Mw mw m ma H ww fd C w n w m ,www a w M/sUL 4 r/OA/ May 3, 1966A. scHwARzBERGER 3,249,077

PATTERN TRACKING MEANS FOR LINE STITCHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Jan. 9, 1963 United States Patent 3,249,077 PATTERN TRACKING MEANSFOR LINE SI'I'ICHING MACHINES Arthur Schwarzberger, Chicago, Ill.,assiguor to Shirley Schwarzberger, Chicago, Ill. Filed `Ian. 9, 1963,Ser. No. 250,312 12 Claims. (Cl. 112-113) My invention relates tomachines which impose lines stitching in assembled layers of textilematerials in conformity with a pattern, and more particularly to meansfor causing the material to move in conformity with the course of thepattern as the needle of the stitching facility is in action.

An object of the invention is to provide a follower and a complementalpattern having a single continuous devious course which the followerengages and to provide relative movement between the follower and thepattern for controlling the movements of a piece of material in relationto the stitching needle whereby line stitching by the operation of theneedle in the material is formed in the material in accordance with thepattern course.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which producesaccurate and rapid relative movements of the follower and the patterncourse, which the follower engages, in any direction, the pattern coursebeing a single, continuous one in the form of a single track or groovehaving straight portions, crossing portions and return bend portions.

Another object is to provide a pair of vertically assembled carrierswhich receive motion individually in directions at right-angles to eachother, whereby to induce the upper carrier to move in various directionsby combining its motion with that of the lower carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for mounting apiece of material on the upper carrier for engagement with the stitchingneedle and for movement in accordance with the relative movements of thefollower and the pattern track or groove, which the follower engages,such latter movements causing the upper carrier to move the materialalong the stationary stitching facility so as to impose line stitchingin the material in accordance with the formation of the track or groove.

A further object is to provide a series of electrical controls whichautomatically reverse the travel of the material where ends or sharpbends occur in the pattern track.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view of the machine as viewed from the front;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation, partly in section;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged vertical sections on the lines 3 3 and 4 4respectively, of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is an enlargement of the lower portion of FIG. 4, showing afragment of the pattern track and certain electrical connections;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the tracking guide as seen from the sectionline 6 6 of FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of FIG. 5, showing a fragment of thepattern track with a return bend;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a fragment of the pattern track, showing anelectrical switching device;

FIG. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. l0 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical circuit employed in themachine.

3,249,077 Patented May 3, 1966 Referring to the drawings, FIG. l showsthat the general design of the machine is elongated from front t0 rear;and specific reference to FIGS. l and 2 shows that the machine isspanned -crosswise by a massive bridge frame 15 formed with terminalfloor standards 16. The frame carries the head 18 of a sewing machine,while the base 19 of the latter is carried by a cross-bar 15a (onlypartly shown in FIG. 2) extending between the standards 16.

The carriers first mentioned are mounted over a system of door railsnoted in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, a pair of rails 25 extend along the frontand rear of the bridge frame 15, respectively. These rails are securedto the door of the space occupied by the machine, or to extensions ofthe standards 16, and are designed to form a track for the travel of thelower carrier 27 from Side to side between the oor standards 16. Thecarrier is in the form of an open frame formed with cross-bars 27a; andthe carrier has wheels 27h which ride on the rails 25.

The side bars of the carrier 27 form a track for the upper carrier 30,whose travel is crosswise of the track rails 2S, that is, between frontand rear positions. The carrier 30 also has cross-bars 30a and pendentjournals 3% (see FIG. 2) for the shafts 30e of wheels 30d which ride onrails 27C rising from the side rails of the carrier 27. i

Mounted as described, the upper carrier 30 may not only be moved forthand back, but also may be carried from side to side by the lower carrieras the latter rides on the track rails 2S. Also, when these movementsare combined, any object on the carrier 30 may also travel in a diagonalor curved course. The quilting pattern 32 is secured on the uppercarrier 30, as indicated by numeral 33 in the lower part of FIG. 2; andthe lower part of FIG. l shows the devious course of the pattern trackconfiguration, which is a single, continuous groove 32a formed in orotherwise provided on the upper face of the pattern material. As shownin FIG. 4, the pattern is disposed well below the cross-bar 15a, whilethe piece 34 of material is positioned horizontally above the cross-bar15a, parallel to the pattern, and is carried by the upper carrier 30 formovements between the head 18 and the base 19 of the sewing machine orstitching facility.

With the pattern mounted for travel horizontally in any direction whenthe carriers are moved singly or in combination, the principle of thepresent machine is to provide a stationary follower along which thepattern groove moves during the travel of the pattern in order to guidethe latter and the textile material 34 according to the course of thepattern groove. This can also be accomplished with the pattern mountedon the floor and the follower mounted on the upper carrier, so as toprovide a stationary pattern and a moving follower.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the upper` carrier 30 has uprights 30e forsupporting a horizontal frame composed of side bars 35 and cross-bars36. The ybridge frame crossbar 15a serves as the support for thefollower housing 40, the same appearing in elevation in FIG. 2 and insection in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the follower housing depends fromthe stationary cross-bar 15a and is interposed vertically between thematerial 34 and the pattern 32. The top of the carrier 3)l is not shownin FIG. l, but indicated at 30j in FIG. 2. Such top carries an internalframe 37 in which the textile material 34 is stretched and secured byclamps 38. As seen in FIG. 4, the crossbar 15a receives a bracket 42 onone side, the bracket having a base 42a; and the latter carries aheadpiece 43 tapped at 43a from the bottom. The follower housing 40 is amassive vertical tube whose upper end is screwed into the headpiece 43,the lower end portion of the follower housing having a conical taper40a. The headpiece and lower end portion of the follower housing havebushings 45 for the slidable passage of the follower 47 which is atubular rod. On the latter is coiled a compression spring 49, the upperend of the spring abutting the headpiece and the lower end bearingagainst a collar 47a adjustable along the rod. FIG. 6 shows that thelatter has a foot 47b recessed at 47c from the ybottom to receive aroller 50, which is journalled in the recess 47a and extends below thefoot 47b. FIG. 7 shows that the foot 47b is elongated horizontally toconform to the co-urse of the single, continuous pattern groove 32a,full lines showing the foot when the groove has a longitudinal portionand dotted lines when the groove has diagonal or curved portions.

The movements of the carriers 27 and 30 are controlled independently. Inother words, one power source causes the carrier 27 to travel from sideto side on the rails 2S, while another power source causes the carrier30 to run between front and rear positions on the rails 27C. The iirstpower source is an electric motor 52 seen in the upper part of FIG. 1and the lower.- part of FIG. 3. The motor is joined to a gear box 53,which isr supported by a platform 55 spanning hangers 56 of the carrier27 (not shown in FIG. 3). The wheels 27h of this carrier are mounted onshafts 27d and 27e journaled in bottom bearings 27f of the carrier, Vasseen in FIG. 2; and` FIGS. 1 and 3 show that shafts 57 and 58 emergefrom the sides of the gear box 53 to pass ychain drives 57a and 58a tomagnetic clutches 57b and 58b mounted on the shaft 27d. The latter andthe wheels carried by it are therefore driven, while the shaft 27e turnsfreely and the wheels 27h carried by it merely roll. The center part ofFIG. 1 and the upper part of FIG. 3 show that the drives for the rearwheels 30d of the carrier 30 are similar to those employed for thelefthand wheels 27b of the carrier 27; and the motor for driving thewheels 30d is indicated at 60.

The configuration of the single, continuous pattern groove 32a is of'course identical with the linear design desired to be stitched in thetextile material 34 seen in the top part of FIGS. 2 and 4. In practicesuch design is symmetrical and ornamental, but the conguration of thecontinuous pattern groove in FIG. 1 is made intentionally withirregularities and sharp angles to demonstrate the versatility'of thepresent follower mechanism under the most difficult tracking conditions.Ordinarily, the elongated form of the follower foot 47b causes it to berotated when the pattern groove changes from one portion to another, asexplained previously in connecti-on with FIG. 7. However, when thegroove moves in a l-inear direction A -to la given point and continueswith a sharp return bend B, as indicated by Iarrows in FIG. 7, means areprovided for moving the pattern in reverse, as per lower arrows in FIG.7, in order to continue the tracking of the follower in the groove.

While a master switch or button is provided for starting the motorswhich induce the travel of the carriers, the controls for reversing suchtravel under the conditions just described reside in the follower.Reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 shows that the follower carries a block 65of insulation material, in which are lodged a pair of vertical strips67, oneon each side of the follower. Insulated electrical conductors 68and 69 rise from the upper ends of the strips, entering the follower 47as shown in FIG. 5. The lower ends of the strips are fashioned intospring blades 70 which depend spacedly from opposite ends of thefollower foot 47b.

FIG. 7 shows that the pattern groove portion A has advanced to a pointwhere one end impinges on the lefthand blade 70 of the follower foot.This action causes the blade to contact the foot, as also indicated bydot-anddash lines in the left-hand part of FIG. 5. This contact is inthe circuit of the magnetic clutches which drive one of the carriers inthe direction of the pattern groove portion A; and the contact is aswitch which procures the alternation of the clutch action in reversedirection, so as to cause the portion B of the groove to receive andtravel along the foot 47b. In order to avoid the backing 4movement ofthe lgroove portion A along the foot on the reversal mentioned, suchportion has `a decline 32h which extends into the portion B, as shown inthe center of FIG. 5. Therefore, on the reverse travel of the patternthe weight of the follower will cause it to resist rising .back into thegroove portion A, and the portion B will therefore move along the footin the reverse direction. It follows now that the other blade 70 willcome into play for reversing purposes when the next return point in thegroove meets the follower ifoot. The reversing action just described mayalso be procured by locating the switching contact in the reversing endof the groove, instead of on the follower.

It may be -assumed that the travel of vthe pattern in the direction A ofthe groove 32a (FIG. 7) is an indication that the carrier 27 istraveling between left and right, as seen in FIG. l. The control forthis motion originates in the environment of the follower. FIGS. 4 and 9show that the headpiece 43 carries clamping blocks 72 on four sides fora set of fixed casings 74; and the rod 47 carries a collar 75a 'betweenthe inner ends of the casings 74, the collar being extended with asector-shaped iron shoe 75. The casings each incorporate a conventionalmagnetic proximity switch 77 (see FIG. 10) which closes contact betweenconductors 79 and 80 (also see FIG. 4) to operate the carrier 27 in thedirection A when an iron objectthe shoe 75-cornes opposite the casing 74as shown in FIG. 9. Since the follower turns from the influence of thepattern groove and in its direction, a movement of the pattern in a`direction transverse `to the track portion A would cause the followerrod 47 and its associated shoe 75 to turn into a position opposite anadjacent casing. This affects the circuit in a manner to operate thecarrier .30 transversely of the previous direction. It follows now, 1naccordance with the circuit illustrated in FIG. 10, that the rotation ofthe follower to locate the shoe 75 opposite the remaining casings 74will procure carrier movements 1n directions reversed to thosepreviously obtained.

The end of pattern travel occurs at a given point, and the same may be acorner C of the groove 32a, depicted 1n FIG. 8. Here a switch 82 islocated adjacent to the groove to 'break the circuit of the motors 52and 60 and sewmg machine 18 by pressure of the follower 40 on a switcharm 82a. The machine therefore stops, and the qullted textile unit maybe removed and replaced by a new textile assembly for a repetition ofthe operation.

At the outset the closing of the master switch starts the carrier motorsand the sewing machine motor. While these motors are in constantoperation, the pattern groove controls the movements of the carriers asmentioned. Near the upper end of the follower rod 47, FIG. 4 shows thatthe conductors 68 and 69` emerge to connect with bindmg posts 87 carriedby a plate 88 and hub 88a of lnsulati-on material; and the plate has ametal ring 89 underneath. The frame bar 15a has an insulation block 90from which a spring bracket 91 extends to apply a brush 92 to the ring89 from underneath. The bracket 91 -is thus an electrical take-olf fromthe switch blades 70 whlch allows for the turning of the follower rod47; and the brush 92 is continued 4as a conductor 125 as shown at theright in the circuit diagram of FIG. l0. Above the take-off zone the rodpasses through a bracket 93 from the framebar to receive a terminal knob47d. While the rod and its foot portion bear on the pattern groove bythe pressure of the spring 49, the knob 47d may be used to raise thefoot out of the groove when the pattern is to be released or changed.

It is now apparent that the reversing blades or switch actuators 70 actas controls through the bracket 93 and that the magnetic blades 77 actthrough the conductors 63 and 69 to control the traveling directors ofthe carriers. As has been mentioned, the motors 52 and 60 are inconstant operation after the starting switch has been turned on. Thecontrols just mentioned yare therefore directed to the magnetic clutches57b and 58b carried by the wheel shafts 27d and 30C. The gear boxes 53shown in the upper and lower center of FIG. 3 indicate that the shaftsof the motors 52 and 66 carry worms 95; and the shafts 57 and 58 in eachgear box carry gears 96 and 97 in mesh with the worm 95. The chaindrives 57a and 58a therefore operate constantly in yopposite directionsto rotate drums 57e and 58C inside the magnetic clutches freely on theshafts 27d and 30C. Now, the wiring of the aforesaid controls to themagnetic clutches serves to engage them -for driving movement in one orthe other direction, according to the course of the pattern groove, torotate the carrier wheels accordingly.

As inferred from FIG. 9, the directional carrier controls areindependent of each other, according to the casing 74 toward which theshoe 75 is directed. Since the turns of the pattern groove may begradual in places, the shoe may often turn part-way from one casingtoward another. While this may not affect the approached casing at theoutset, such casing will become affected on the continued approach ofthe shoe, lcausing the corn- -panion carrier to move together with theinitial one. The combined movement of the carriers will thus train thetextile material in conformity with the devious portions, such as turns,curves and the like formed in the single continuous groove in thepattern.

The wiring of the machine is preferably with a power voltage-llO-for themotors and magnetic clutches; and with a low voltage-6for the carriercontrols to make them economical to purchase and safe. Thus, the circuitdiagram shows the A.C. power line conductors 166 and 101 leading to themotor 104 of the sewing machine. A branch 185 of the conductor 10i)leads through a selenium rectifier 107 to one of the terminal of themotors 52 and 66. A companion branch 108 of the conductor 1111 leadsthrough the rectifier and a rheostat 110 to the other terminal of thesaid motors. Extensions 111 of the branch 105 go to one of the terminalsof the magnetic clutches 571; and 5817. The rectifier is employed togain the use of D.C. motors for the carrier movements. Such motorspermit the use of the rheostat for changing the traveling speed of thecarriers as desired. Thus, the stitches of the sewing machine in thetextile material may be made longer by increasing the carrier speed andvice-versa.

The step-down of the A.C. current from the line 1GO-161 is procured by atransformer 115. The output of the transformer has one terminal groundedat 117 and the other extending as a conductor 118 to a series of relays12), 121, and a ratchet relay 122 which control the magnetic proximityblades 77. One conductor 125 from the ratchet relay 122 goes to thebrush 92 which bears on the ring 89, In the right-central part of thediagram the conductors 85 are shown, these leading from the blades 70alongside the follower foot 47h to the ring 89. A branch 112 of theconductor 108 leads to one terminal of each of the proximity blades 77.From the opposite terminal thereof a conductor 113 leads to the centerterminal of each relay 121B and 121. From relay units 120e and 121aconductors 114 lead to clutches 57b and SSI: of carrier 27; and fromrelay units 126b and 121b conductors 114a lead to clutches 57b and 5811of carrier 30. Therefore, when a reversing contact is made at 70,ratchet relay 122 alternates the contacting of the points in theaforesaid relay units. This action results in the alternation of thecurrent fiow from proximity blades 77 through their respective relayunit-s, so that current which was flowing through unit 12951 to clutch58h of lcarrier 27 now flows through unit 120g to clutch 57h of carrier30. The same action takes place in 6 the other relay units-121ri, 12115and 12M-in relation to their respective clutches.

The upper left-hand corner of FIG. 10 shows the master switch at 130,the same being in circuit with a relay 131 to affect a series ofacross-the-line switches 132 for the control of the line current.

I claim:

1. A machine for imposing line stitching in a piece of materialcomprising a stationary upstanding frame, means mounting a piece ofmaterial on the frame for movements in a horizontal plane relativethereto, a sewing machine carried by the frame in cooperative relationwith the piece of material, a pattern positioned below the piece ofmaterial parallel thereto and having an upper surface provided with acontinuous groove arranged in prescribed directions and having sharpreturn bend portions, a follower disposed between the material and theupper surface of the pattern Land positioned in engagement with thegroove, means producing relative movement between the follower and thepattern to effect movements of the material and orient the stitching bythe sewing machine in the material in conformity with the course of thegroove and means automatically reversing the relative movements of thefollower and the pattern at the return bend portions.

2. A machine for imposing line stitching in a piece of materialcomprising a stationary upstanding frame, means mounting a piece ofmaterial on the frame for movements in a horizontal plane relativethereto, a sewing machine carried by the frame in cooperative relationwith the piece of material, a pattern positioned below the piece ofmaterial parallel thereto and having an upper surface provided with asingle, continuous groove arranged in prescribed directions and havingsharp return bend portions, means mounting the pattern for movements ina horizontal plane, a stationary follower carried by the frame andinterposed vertically between the piece of material and the pattern and1disposed in engaging relation with the groove, the pattern travelingalong the follower which guides the movements of the pattern indirections orienting the stitching by the sewing machine in the materialin conformity with the course of the groove and means automaticallyreversing the movements of the pattern at the return bend portions.

3. A machine for imposing line stitching in a piece of materialcomprising a stationary upstanding frame, means mounting a piece ofmaterial on the frame for movements in a horizontal plane relativethereto, a sewing machine carried by the frame in cooperative relationwith the piece of material, a pattern positioned below the piece ofmaterial parallel thereto and having an upper surface provided with asingle continuous groove arranged in prescribed directions and havingsharp return bend portions, means mounting the pattern for movements ina horizontal plane, a stationary follower carried by the frame andinterposed vertically between the piece of material and the pattern anddisposed in engaging relation with the groove, the pattern travelingalong the follower which guides the movements of the pattern indirections orienting the stitching by the sewing machine in the materialin conformity with the course of the groove, means automaticallyreversing the movements of the pattern at the return bend portions inthe groove, each bend portion having an entering portion and a returningportion, and means at each bend portion leading the follower into thereturning portion when said reversing occurs.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein said last means comprises a declineformation of the entering portion of the groove at each bend portionleading into the returning portion at the bend portion.

5. A machine for imposing line stitching in a piece of materialcomprising a stationary upstanding frame, a lower carrier mounted forrectilinear reciprocatory movements relative to the frame, means formoving said lower carrier, an upper carrier, means mounting the uppercarrier on the lower carrier for rectilinear reciprocatory movements ofthe upper carrier in a direction transverse to the rectilinearreciprocatory path of movement of the lower carrier, means for movingsaid upper carrier, means attaching a piece `of material to the uppercarrier and disposing the material in `a horizontal plane, a sewingmachine carried by the frame in cooperative relation with the material,a pattern mounted on the upper carrier below the material and parallelthereto and having an upper surface provided with a single continuousgroove arranged in connecting portions adapted to correspond to thedesired line stitching to be imposed by the sewing machine in thematerial, a follower positioned vertically between the material and thepattern and operatively engaged in tracking -relation with the grooveeffective to orient the stitching in conformity with the portions of thegroove, and control means, responsive to the engagement of portions ofthe groove with the follower, controlling the means for moving the lowercarrier and the means for moving the upper carrier so that one carrieris moved when a portion of the groove extends substantially in onedirection and the other carrier is moved when another portion of thegroove extends transversely of the direction of said rst mentionedportion.

6. A machine for imposing line stitching in a piece of materialcomprising a stationary upstanding frame, a lower carrier mounted forrectilinear reciprocatory movements relative to the frame, means formoving said lower carrier, an upper carrier, means mounting the uppercarrier on the lower carrier for rectilinear reciprocatory movements ofthe upper carrier in a direction transverse to the rectilinearreciprocatory path of movement of the lower carrier, means for movingsaid upper carrier, means attaching a piece of material to the uppercarrier and disposing the material in a horizontal plane, a sewingmachine carried by the frame in cooperative relation with the material,a pattern mounted on the upper carrier below the material and parallelthereto and having an upper surface provided with a single continuousgroove arranged in connecting portions adapted to correspond to thedesired line stitching to be imposed by the sewing machine in thematerial, a follower positioned vertically between the material and thepattern and operatively engaged in tracking relation with the grooveeffective to orient the stitching in conformity with the portions of thegroove and control means, responsive to the engagement of portions ofthe groove with the follower, controlling the means for moving the lowercarrier and the means for moving the upper carrier so that one lcarrieris moved parallel to a portion of the groove extending in a directionalong the longitudinal axis of the pattern and the other carrier ismoved parallel to a portion of the groove extending transversely of thelongitudinal axis of the pattern and in communication with the portionextending longitudinally of the pattern.

7. A machine for imposing line stitching in a piece of materialcomprising a stationary upstanding frame, a lower carrier mounted forrectilinear reciprocatory movements relative to the frame, means formoving said lower carrier, an upper carrier, means mounting the uppercarrier on the lower carrier for rectilinear reciprocatory movements ofthe upper carrier in a direction transverse to the rectilinearreciprocatory path of movement of the lower carrier, means for movingsaid upper carrier, means attaching a piece of material to the uppercarrier and disposing the material in a horizontal plane, a sewingmachine carried by the frame in cooperative relation with the material,a pattern mounted on the upper carrier below the material and parallelthereto and having an upper surface provided with a single continuousgroove arranged in connecting portions adapted to correspond to thedesired line stitching to be imposed by the sewing machine in thematerial, a follower positioned vertically between the material and thepattern and operatively engaged in tracking relation with the grooveeffective to orient the stitching in conformity with the portions of thegroove, and control means, responsive to the engagement of portions ofthe groove with the follower, selectively controlling the means formoving the lower carrier and the means for moving the upper carrier sothat one carrier is moved when a portion of the groove extendssubstantially in one direction and the other carrier is moved when aportion of the groove extends in a direction substantially transverselyof the stated one direction and both carriers are moved in unison when aportion of the groove varies from either direction.

8. A machine for imposing line stitching in a piece of materialcomprising a stationary upstanding frame, a lower carrier mounted forrectilinear reciprocatory movements relative to the frame, means formoving said lower carrier, an upper carrier, means mounting the uppercarrier on the lower carrier for rectilinear reciprocatory movements ofthe upper carrier in a direction transverse to the rectilinearreciprocatory path of movement of the lower carrier, means for movingsaid upper carrier, means attaching a piece of material to the uppercarrier and disposing the material in a horizontal plane, a sewingmachine carried by the frame in cooperative relation with the material,a pattern mounted on the upper carrier below the material and parallelthereto and having an upper surface provided with a single continuousgroove arranged in connecting portions adapted to correspond to thedesired line stitching to be imposed by the sewing machine in thematerial, a follower positioned vertically between the material and thepattern and operatively engaged in tracking relation with the grooveeffective to orient the stitching in conformity with the portions of thegroove, said follower depending from the frame and mounted for rotativemovement as the portions of the groove extend in different directionsrelative to the longitudinal axis of the pattern, and control means,responsive to selective positions of rotation of the follower, forselectively actuating the means for moving the upper carrier and themeans for moving the lower carrier so that the carriers move inselective directions corresponding to said selective portions of thegroove.

9. The structure of claim S, wherein said control means includes anelectrical circuit, magnetic proximity switches in said circuit and aferrous shoe carried by the follower, said switches being in the path ofthe shoe.

10. The structure of claim 8, wherein said means for moving the uppercarrier and the means for moving the lower carrier each includes anelectrical circuit, electrical motors in said circuit, magnetic clutchesoperatively connected to the motors, means connecting said clutches tothe carriers and said control means includes switches in said circuitselectively controlling the magnetic clutches.

11. The structure of claim 8, wherein said means for moving the uppercarrier and means for moving the lower carrier includes a constantlyoperating electrical motor for each carrier, a first drive means foreach carrier moving the carrier in one reciprocatory direction, a seconddrive means for each carrier for moving the carrier in the oppositedirection, magnetic clutches associated with the motors and connected tothe rst and second drive means for each carrier for selectivelyactuating the drive means, the control means controlling the operationof the clutches automatically at portions of the groove, defining returnbends, to actuate the clutches selectively for operating the seconddrive means for a carrier so as to move a carrier in the oppositedirection.

12. The structure of claim 8, wherein said groove has return bendportions and said means for moving the upper carrier and said means formoving the lower carrier com` prises a motor for each carrier andincluding a drive worm, gears meshing with the drive worm from opposite9 l@ sides to receive rotary movement in opposite directions, ReferencesCited bythe Examiner magnetic clutches receiving drives fr orn saidgears and en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gageable with one drive to transmittravellng motmn to 4 each carrier in a given direction, an electriccircuit in 3731510 11/1887 Zaufld i12-H8 which the motors and theclutches are connected and said 5 2'855877 10/1958 Whltehead 112"2control means including switch means automatically 310011489 9/1961 Bondet al- 112-2 operative at the return bend portions to change the clutch31073'267 1/1963 Reeber et al 112`2 engagement to the other drive fortransmitting motion to the carriers in opposite directions. JORDANFRANKLIN Primary Examiner'

1. A MACHINE FOR IMPOSING LINE STITCHING IN A PIECE OF MATERIALCOMPRISING A STATIONARY UPSTANDING FRAME, MEANS MOUNTING A PIECE OFMATERIAL ON THE FRAME FOR MOVEMENTS IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE RELATIVETHERETO, A SEWING MACHINE CARRIED BY THE FRAME IN COOPERATIVE RELATIONWITH THE PIECE OF MATERIAL, A PATTERN POSITIONED BELOW THE PIECE OFMATERIAL PARALLEL THERETO AND HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE PROVIDED WITH ACONTINUOUS GROOVE ARRANGED IN PRESCRIBED DIRECTIONS AND HAVING SHARPRETURN BEND PORTIONS, A FOLLOWER DISPOSED BETWEEN THE MATERIAL AND THE